Malba
Inspirational art in an inspirational building
Word to the wise: Go on a Wednesday for cheaper admission.
Talk of the town: Founder Eduardo Constantini had to pay off the first two paintings he ever bought as a young businessman in instalments. Just 30 years later he commissioned a USD 50 million museum to share his collection with the world.
This is both an impressive collection of modern Latin American art and an impressive building. The Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires, founded in 2001, is housed in a purpose built, glass fronted gallery; spacious and luminescent, it is an attraction in its own right.
The work covers almost every movement of the 20th century, in a vaguely chronological order, with pieces by most Latin American masters such as Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera.
Upstairs, the temporary exhibits are always challenging too. Currently, Endredamaderas by Pablo Reinoso is your first impression as you walk in. A wooden bench curves, winds and intertwines up the wall and between floors creating art using the actual exhibit space (until December 2011).
There is also an excellent bookshop, gift store, cafe and a regular schedule of art-house films.